Carteret County, North Carolina
The most common soil here is Deloss, on about 5% of the land: a loam, a balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. Longshoal and Tomotley come next.
About 5% of the land drains well, and 43% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 43% of it.
USDA rates 50% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 47% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 10% of the land floods occasionally or more.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Carteret County, North Carolina, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
The biggest mapped areas
The dominant drainage class is Very poorly drained and the dominant hydrologic group is B/D (varies with drainage). The most common soil order is Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes. This report summarizes the major soil map units across the survey area to help you understand what to expect when buying, building, or gardening in Carteret County, North Carolina. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 335K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Deloss fine sandy loam | 37K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Longshoal muck, very frequently flooded | 28K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tomotley fine sandy loam | 22K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Leon sand | 20K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Croatan muck | 20K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Ponzer muck | 17K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Murville mucky sand | 16K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Hobucken mucky fine sandy loam, frequently flooded | 16K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Arapahoe fine sandy loam | 15K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Torhunta mucky fine sandy loam | 14K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Wasda muck | 14K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Belhaven muck, 0 to 2 percent slopes, rarely flooded | 9K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Altavista loamy fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 8K | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pantego fine sandy loam | 8K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Masontown mucky loam, frequently flooded | 6K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rains fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, Atlantic Coast Flatwoods | 6K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Carteret sand, frequently flooded | 6K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Wando fine sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes | 5K | Well drained | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Baymeade fine sand, 1 to 6 percent slopes | 5K | Well drained | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
Soil Orders in This Area
The USDA classifies every soil into one of 12 soil orders. Here are the dominant orders found in this survey area.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 47% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 50% of soils have significant septic limitations, while others are more suitable. A perc test is essential — conditions vary across the area.
Gardening & Agriculture
Many soils hold water for extended periods. Raised beds are highly recommended to improve drainage for vegetables. Well-adapted native plants and water-loving species will do best in natural conditions.